The Marvel Cinematic Universe has always been full of surprises, both on and off-screen. In a landscape where heroes and villains battle epic forces, sometimes the most dramatic conflicts happen in real life. One actor’s journey — marked by triumph, tragedy, and controversy — has sent shockwaves through Hollywood.
As fans eagerly follow every twist in the MCU’s evolving narrative, a deeply personal story has emerged that underscores the high stakes of fame.
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After a groundbreaking debut as Kang the Conqueror in the season finale of Disney+’s Loki in 2021, Jonathan Majors quickly became a key figure in Marvel’s ambitious plans. Majors’ portrayal of Kang not only delighted comic book enthusiasts but also set the stage for his character to become the MCU’s next major villain.
He also appeared in Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023) and was slated to headline Avengers: The Kang Dynasty, which was slated to be released in 2025.
However, while his on-screen trajectory seemed unstoppable, off-screen events took an unexpected and devastating turn.
Majors’ life and career were thrown into disarray in March 2023 when he was arrested and charged with harassment, assault, and strangulation. The incident unfolded at his New York apartment after he called police, claiming he found his girlfriend unresponsive.
Subsequent investigations, which included speaking with his ex-girlfriend Grace Jabbari, determined that the actor had beaten his ex — an incident that led to injuries so severe that she had to be transported to the hospital.
This incident set off a chain reaction that not only disrupted his rising career but also forced Marvel to reconsider its plans.
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Initially, Marvel remained relatively quiet about the arrest, even delaying the release of Magazine Dreams, a film in which Majors was set to star. But as the controversy mounted, in December 2023, Majors was found guilty of assault in the third degree and harassment. Shortly thereafter, Marvel announced it was parting ways with the actor.
This decision sent shockwaves throughout the Marvel Cinematic Universe, as his character was intended to be a cornerstone for Phase 5. Marvel had to postpone Avengers: The Kang Dynasty and grapple with whether Kang would continue as part of the story or be recast.
In April 2024, Majors was sentenced to one year of attendance in a domestic violence intervention program. Grace Jabbari, his ex-girlfriend, expressed disappointment over the sentence, noting that Majors had always maintained his innocence and was not sorry for what had happened.
Credit: Searchlight Pictures
In a recent interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Majors detailed the moment he learned about his firing. He recalled sitting in his car with his legal team after the verdict when his lawyer broke the news.
“He goes, ‘I’m just gonna tell you now,’” Majors says. “That way you’re not surprised, and you can start processing it. They fired you. Marvel fired you.’”
“There were days when it was like, ‘Is this real?’” says Majors, 35, of the period of time during and immediately after his trial, where he pleaded not guilty. “It’s a heartbreak like I’ve never experienced and it just compounded and compounded.”
Despite the personal and professional fallout, Majors is slowly beginning to rebuild his career. His scrapped film Magazine Dreams was purchased by Briarcliff Entertainment in October 2024, and the film is set to finally be released on March 21.
He has also revealed that he is auditioning for new roles, including a superhero part, although he has confirmed that these opportunities will not come with Marvel or DC.
The impact of Majors’ exit has left a significant void in the MCU.
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At the 2024 San Diego Comic-Con, Marvel stunned fans by announcing that The Kang Dynasty would now be rebranded as Avengers: Doomsday. In an even more dramatic twist, Robert Downey Jr. is slated to return to the MCU as Doctor Doom — a casting decision that has generated as much buzz as it has controversy. Downey Jr., who once embodied the iconic
Tony Stark before his character was killed off in Avengers: Endgame (2019), now appears set to bring a new dynamic to the franchise.
What are your thoughts on this tumultuous chapter in the MCU? Should Jonathan Majors be given another shot, or should Hollywood leave him in the rearview mirror? Share your thoughts in the comments!
